VIDEO: In-depth look at the CKD VW Polo Hatch 1.6

By now, regular paultan.org readers would be familiar with everything there is to know about the recently-launched Volkswagen Polo Hatchback 1.6. We’ve comprehensively covered the locally-assembled car’s arrival here, right from its preview at KLIMS13 last year to its official launch last week.

Last weekend, we even featured a full live gallery of the CKD VW Polo, pointing out every visible difference between it and the imported Polo 1.2 TSI. There’s a lot more to this new model than a simple price reduction, we can assure you of that. But, we’re not finished with it just yet.

You’ve read about it, seen some photos, and now here’s our man Jonathan James Tan in our new video walk-around feature, telling it as it is. Have a watch above, and tell us what you think in the comments section. There will be more video content coming your way, so do subscribe to our YouTube channel. Enjoy.

Preferring to drive cars rather than desks, Hafriz Shah ditched his suit and tie to join the ranks of Malaysia’s motoring hacks. A car’s technical brilliance is completely lost on him, appreciating character-making quirks more. When not writing this ego trip of a bio, he’s usually off driving about aimlessly, preferably in a car with the right combination of three foot pedals and six gears.

Worth nothing? U better name me one b segment car with price of 85888 that have 6 speed, better fuel consumption, with that torque.

U guys are.just bashing with no basis…
Pls do your calculation… Polo sedan is now cut to RM 89,888, which is 10 k cheaper than cbu, with same spec.
This polo hatchback if under ckd but same spec, will most likely priced at RM 104,888 (10k saved from duty/tax). So how does the extra 20k being saved? Of course cheaper interior material and engine.
Thus there goes cheaper price of close to 30 k. And many readers with either can’t read or can’t do their maths say it’s bloody hell not worth it and complaining ckd with different spec. Pls la, ckd itself can save 30k for car price of 114k? It’s 30k u saved (10k due to ckd) removing dsg isn’t a bad move at all… And driver without rooftop holder is a.big problem? How many of u hold on to it while driving? Roof material is made of cheaper material… (as if u will touch the roof all day long).
So guys what I am trying to say that Pls do your calculation or thinking before bashing… Ckd itself is not gonna save u 30 k!!! That’s why some downgraded material.. Still value for money if u compare and ride and handling to B segment jap cars… Not to.mention the 6 speed, fuel consumption and torque as compared to B segment japs….

If any of you guys here have read the VW Malaysia facebook page, you will definitely stay away from VW. Service Centres stink in service.

Anyway, this car is a disgrace. It is stripped out so bad, they might as well sell you the shell and sell it as a Kit car. You can then take home the Kit car and assemble it yourself.

Malaysians, don’t you have any shame? People throw dirt also, you go and pick up the dirt. Even dogs also got dignity. You throw an old rotting bone at a dog, he will smell it and just walk away.

Deny all you want, this car is made by DRB, it will use and share same platform as Proton. In other words, you are better off buying a Preve for RM58k. Why buy a car that in disguise is completely a Proton?

Though this is not a direct rebadge but trust me, every single DNA of this car is a Proton.

VW fanboys are getting excited with the VW logo. VW salesman also now losing sales, got lots of free time to lurk in PT to spead lies.

Last year VW sales dropped drastically. This year, it is going to drop even more. Infact this year, if they sell 5000 units also, it will be lottery luck

Why?

1) Everybody knows about the DSG scandals

2) Everybody knows that the CKD is really a Proton in disguise. Trust me DRB quality is toilet quality!

Read Paul Tan’s article on VSC. See how important it is. Any car without VSC can be considered a super duper high risk. But a car that sells nearly RM90k without VSC, that is heights of stupidity of the rakyat of Malaysia to support it.

No other car manufacturer got this kind of drop in sales last year. This means, people of Malaysia are waking up to the hype of VW. They now know, VW is nothing but a problematic car with non stop breakdowns and very bad service centre.

Malaysians are also waking up to the fact that VW only offers 2 years warranty. The additional 3 years is Insurance. Insurance means discretion.

Thrird year your DSG breakdown, insurance tell you podah, be prepared to fork out RM40,000 to repair your DSG.

Well, take away the German country of origin, it gets put into the same pool as a Vios and a City. Similar specs at similar price. No big advantage except the all usual German brand but made in malaysia. lol. Shiok sendiri.

VW salesman spotted! or purely blind fanboy. DUDE. CKD in the first place is meant to lower down imported cars price. plus it provides extra jobs for local to assemble the cars.

But only pure blind fanboys will be fooled with the fact that so many stuffs got stripped out (2 Airbags vs 4 which already available on Polo sedan??) yet the price is advertised AS IF it just being CKD with similar/acceptable specs

After all, POLO is just a POLO, a small compact city car meant for sending kids to school, go pasar etc. NOthing to do with performance!!

I have to disagree with you, the 30k price reduction is due to reduction from a very high CBU price,omission of certain feature and usage of cheaper material,so where is the reduction in tax value being pass on to the customer?
Secondly I have test driven their polo sedan which happen to have 4 airbag,performance of the engine and gearbox of this 1.6 and 6 speed autobox is a loser in comparison with its japanese counterpart…,the refinement is not there,so much for a INDIAN born GERMAN car…….but I do have to say the ride is better than the Japanese.Other than that its as KOSONG as any b segment japanese car on malaysian road.

Jap B segment can consider city. My old IDSI city bought in 2003. 7 speed CVT, FC now is about 480km for Ron 95 city drive from full tank till empty light on. Refill petrol to full is about rm70 to 74.00. Honda service all the time, no major break down but did change radio water tank and service gear once cost rm2k +. The rest according to SC schedules. Average few hundreds per 5k service for pass ten years. Now milleage has reached 220,000km+. Today cheapest city is rm85k+. Can consider this car for those looking for reliable, space and seldom break down model below rm90k. *Iam not Honda sales man. Just a user

I agree with you that CKD alone won’t save 30k, comparing CBU/CKD tax structure, it’s likely saved 10-12k. But we were whining about how much we have to pay for very little.

The whole idea is that it has lost the premium image, and with that price, it doesn’t even stand out among the Japanese or Koreans. It’s still a valid choice, but value for money it is not.

I’ve not driven the car yet, but read what Leong wrote. It doesn’t blow anything out of the water. If you want something that handles better, you have the Fiesta for rm500 less; If you want a practical city car, you have the CKD Jazz for a whoppin 15.5k less.

Arguing about the 7Nm extra torque is as pointless as arguing about the driver side handle. Is it useful? Yes. Do you use it all the time, everyday? No! It’s nice to have but you don’t need it. I’ve travelled to crazy places with less than 60nm of torque, surrounded by pickup trucks and 4x4s, I can say there won’t be a big issue between 146 and 153nm of torque. As for fuel consumption, you are the one who should do your research.

To be fair, considering what Leong said about the ride, plus the cruise control it have, and the lack of VSA/ESP, I suppose what stands out would be that it is an okay B segment car to cruise long distance on a straight highway…

Well I tend to agree on your statement, but for a light weight car like this, with 152 Nm at 3800 rpm, it does feel zippy as compared to other b segment car. Closing the door does bring u difference compared to japs..

What I am trying to say is, value for money is a subjective thing to different individual considering brand image and other factors. But it is still a valid choice for b segment car for this price. Currently selling 85,888.

But most readers here call in a trash that worth nothing. Doesn’t sound rational. Yea some parts are make of hard plastic, but how many b segment cars u can name out that have soft touch dashboard at 85 k? This video some how trigger a lot people to perceive this is a cheapo car without making valid comparison to its targeted rival now.

Well I tend to agree on your statement, but for a light weight car like this, with 152 Nm at 3800 rpm, it does feel zippy as compared to other b segment car. Closing the door does bring u difference compared to japs..

What I am trying to say is, value for money is a subjective thing to different individual considering brand image and other factors. But it is still a valid choice for b segment car for this price. Currently selling 85,888.

But most readers here call it a trash that worth nothing. Doesn’t sound rational. Yea some parts are make of hard plastic, but how many b segment cars u can name out that have soft touch dashboard at 85 k? This video some how trigger a lot people to perceive this is a cheapo car without making valid comparison to its targeted rival now

Its funny that many manufecturer are dumbing down to meet proton’s price range(Jazz & Polo CKD) while Proton is moving up to meet them(Suprima S & Super Premium variants). If I am not mistaken, there was someone saying that you still can buy the 1.2 as it is sold alongside thou I doubt that as the 1.2 has been pulled off from their webpage.

..Anyways, the Polo range(sedan and Hatch)are the most dissapointing thing since the Jazz Hybrid CKD as both ,like the Jazz-H, omitted the ESC and also the depletion in airbag counts from their CBU counterparts . The Polo sedan thou at RM 2k more at least gets rear seat vents and 2 more side airbags. As of now, I am leaning towards [-brace yourselfs-] the Vios over these as peronally, the Vios wins on interior ,spec and size….just a little.

Typical features vs price argument….. Give features, complain price expensive….. Give competitive pricing, complain low spec…. maybe next time try working for a company which can tell you, “Eh! Lets reduce staff benefits and salary so that we can make our products full of features and at a cheap price!”

In the end, company needs to make profit… so either charge more, or less specs…. or take protection training wheels of proton (which will never happen).

Leong, next time company give you bonus or increment, please decline ya. Dont be greedy! Face the fact, working in a capitalist economy is nothing abut profits! If your parents didnt have that thinking, you prob would not have a computer and an internet line to type all this ignorant words….

You are missing the point. I do not want to have it all. I want a choice.

Want cheap knockoff just for the nametag? Here’s your Volkswagen Saga.
You have lots of money burning a whole in your pocket and would like to pay for safety + feature? Here’s your Volkswagen Saga Premium FLX Supreme Plus.

I’m not asking them to magically merged.

Well to be fair, VW 1st option could have been done better as one of the commenter has pointed out, the XC60 sounds like a sweet deal when transplanted. I suspect VW early assembly setup cost has been factored into the price of the CKD Polo.

I think the fact of the matter is not on the subject of the depletion in features but more on What feature is depleted. even at RM20odd-k depleted, I don’t see why they have to take out the airbags and stability control, I don’t see why they now have to make hard plastic and not continue with soft touch(something I prized in Volkswagen). Basially the advantage of locally assemble and the manufecturing of a much simpler drivetrain should cut the cost down signifivantly to allow at least those safety specs and interior quality to be retained. I don’t know, I am no engineer and am basing this off common sense, so do correct me if I am wrong.

On to Leong. I do understand greed is a deadly sin, but the definition of sin means: in excess. greed is define as a sin of excess as one can not STOP wanting more, thats a sin. profit on the other hand, when controled is not. This is a buisness they are running and they have to make something to continue to do buisness. Greed comes when the company is selling at price that lost all reasoning….Thats greed.

Good review there Mr. Jonathan. Wish they haven’t cut down too many goodies on the car though, but I think this Polo will be great for those who are looking for a stylish and quick hatchback below a RM100K budget.

Can still show off ma. Change to polo gti front grill, change headlamps with drl, paint the roof black, change to detroit sportrim and voila… Polo Gti lookalike. And dont forget to remove the volkswagon and polo emblem at the back. Now the car looks more upmarket. ·

I honestly not sure to thumb you up or down. Yes you can do all that but the original accessories from VW are not cheap in the first place, which may make the Polo TSi look better value in the first place (it was priced 108,888 without the 17″). Then most people WILL know that car you drive is a pretender.

The hearsay that it was coming at 78K probably made everyone disappointed. I would support that even if it has to come with just the normally aspirated 1.4 litre. They my not want to downgrade the VW name….. but VW never spelled luxury in the first place. It’s a People’s Car!!!

Even my German lecturer is happy enough rolling around here with her Neo R3. She said many Germans themselves are sick with VW because a “People’s car” company should make something affordable like a Kia, Toyota or Proton, not some unreliable premium wannabe crap.

If VW is thinking of using Malaysia as their next dumping ground for their obsolete hardwares, I seriously think they are making a huge mistake. Just look at the VW Polo Sedan and it’s dismal sales figures. Nowadays, Malaysian are more informed about the automobile industry and it’s latest offerings and will not be con by unscrupulous car producers who wants to make a fast buck. We Malaysians deserve better spec cars and the Koreans have shown that they always offer the fairest deals hence the increase numbers of Korean cars on our roads. And recently a few Japanese brands are trying their best to match these offerings besides Toyota of course. And with these practices, consumers are offered better and safer cars. So if VW still don’t catch on with the times, then say sayonara to your sales!

Malaysians should be educated more abt reading car specs and prioritize safety above anything else, if we really wanna force these companies to come up with better, more appropriate and affordable offerings.

If most Malaysians still stick with their “hey it’s branded, looks good, must be a good car” mentality… these companies will continue to cekik our darah

Couldn’t agree more…
114k for such a tiny car ppl complain and expensive and does not worth the money.. Dsg failure etc… (when they launch cbu )
Now cut off 30 k, people say so damn not worth it… Either u guys are too rich or don’t know 30k is a massive money u can saved from a car price of 114k.. (close to 30%)
And those people out of 99% are not going to buy either the ckd or cbu.. Just bash for fun…

I can’t blame you, but it’s a pity you ve this kind of mind set.. its like your mat salleh brand like a god.. can’t compare & like their products are perfect?.. puiihh.. tahi busuk jg.. well good because this superior feeling also that lead to the death of European & US brands.. no need to mention so many good japs model outside there. But just type car index.. or manufacturer index & see yourself who on top.. & look where your brand position before you open your mouth. Puuih. Btw.. please tell me which Jap brand tapau in this 21st century? All the brand even since WW1, still survive today… Mitsubishi. . Kawasaki.. look all the dead western brand.. you want me to name them? Im too lazy to type.

Never heard of Apolo tyres before…is it local? I also notice that the rear seats cannot fold completely flat and the extra boot floor to hide valuable things is missing. I was so keen to buy one but it has lost all that premium feel and quality.

Apolo tyres are from India. It is made for badly potholed Indian roads. So, your ride qulaity will be the same as the famous Ambassador car in India. Hardy but shit ride quality. It is even more comfortable to ride a bullock cart with a lembu pulling you than ride any car or tyre from India.

Anyway, DRB got no shame is it? Don’t know how to use barang Buatan Malaysia is it? CKD the car but instead of using our Continental Tyres and support Barang Buatan Malaysia, you all source some cheap tyre from India just to cut cost even more and give Malaysians the wrost of the worst.

thumbs up good review by jonathan. clean script, clear description and brief. paultan site should have more video walkthrough review like this in future. bloggers/forumers might not realize this, but i trust this will save time for ‘actual’ car shoppers from spending too much time visiting showrooms and getting distracted from SA mentioning specs that are irrelevant.

many auto sites in US have similar walkthrough reviews (tons of them in youtube) but they don’t necessarily reflect the spec we get here in malaysia. seriously, good job and keep it up!

Good review but Jonathan forgot to talk about the boot area and what’s missing there compared to the CBU model.

At RM85k, the only thing going for the Polo hatch CKD is the German engineering that goes into German cars. You need to drive one long-term to appreciate how the Germans build their cars.

For me, the Polo is out of the question because of the Fiesta, the 208, the Rio and, stretching it a bit, the Jazz.

If I wanted something cheaper and more spacious – Jazz.
If I wanted something full spec and cheaper – Rio.
If I wanted a good drive with better specs – Fiesta.
If I wanted better specs and a European brand – 208.

what do you guys expect for 85k, toyota vios, honda city you guys dont bash also… this vw polo got so many more features compared to other car in this price range.. dont just look at hard plastics look at the feature auto ac, auto cruise, 6 speed gear tiptronic, and many more

At the end it’s your money… go buy what you want.. go buy for your pride to VW or BMW or whatsoever… me? I enjoy read your misery & see you all fall into financial traps.. & then wreck your family or relationship… so I can take over your gf or woman.. hehe.. money can buy anything… even love. . Hahaha..

As long as Malaysians continue to put brand preference ahead of value & safety & as long as shitboxes such as the Vios remains the best selling non national car, we will never get to enjoy great value from our purchases as carmakers continue to gouge buyers.

They can easily mask their unbridled greed behind taxation issues because we’re dumb enough to think that’s the only thing that’s wrong with the Malaysian car market!

I went to VW Sg Besi to test drive the unit, having high expectation arising from 1 VW purchased 2 years ago. The feeling of cost cutting interior is very obvious that may even put off impulse buyer, not to mention the missing safety technology which pretty common to entry level cars, air bags, VSC etc that surprisingly get an approval from German principal. The engine bay is another let down, with obviously bare parts and wires connections that naked without so much thought to properly fasten or covered. The paint quality and workmanship observed in the engine bay is surprisingly of substandard as compared to external body.
Yesterday the salesperson called asking my decision, and my decision is rationalized by not buying it.

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